Wednesday, October 17, 2012

July 5 - more rafters

Pectoral Sandpiper chicks! Probably my favorite of the species that I got to see as chicks.

Woke up after 9 today, didn’t head
out until 11 – such a difference from only a week ago! Went out alone and
covered the 5s and 7s, where I got to see my first Pectoral Sandpiper chicks,
as well as a Semipalmated Sandpiper hatch. I even found a couple nests as well,
singles of Pacific Loon and Ruddy Turnstone.

As soon as our last rafters left
some new ones arrived! Practically a guesthouse on our beach now.. We invited them
up for hot drinks, and chatted for an hour or so before they headed back. Two
families and the girlfriends of the sons in the families – quite different from
the last crowd which was a professional tour.

We six also spent the evening after
they left playing a game that is a cross between charades and taboo called
tossed salad – a ton of fun. Now it is after midnight for the second night in a
row writing this, and only three more full days here – insane!